US5111245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for positioning a development unit with respect to an image member
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1990-12-03
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Granted: 1992-05-05
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Expires: 2010-12-03
Abstract
Abstract An applicator for a development unit is precisely positioned with respect to an image member, such as a photoconductive drum. A pair of pins are fixed with respect to the image member and fit in a pair of holes that are fixed with respect to the applicator. A roller on each of opposite ends of the applicator engages a surface of the image member to properly space the applicator and image member, while the pins and holes control relative lateral and rotational movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. DeCecca
- 👤 Arthur S. Kroll
- 👤 Arthur E. Dunn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:22
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0806; G03G15/0813; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0126; G03G15/0896; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1647; G03G21/1661; G03G21/1671; G03G21/1676; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1603; G03G2221/163; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
Positioning apparatus for positioning an applicator of a development unit with respect to a surface of an image member at a developing position, said surface having a generally cylindrical shape at least at said development position, said cylindrical shape having an axis of rotation and opposite ends, and said positioning apparatus positioning said applicator and surface with respect to three orthogonal axes, a z axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the image member, an x axis parallel to a line between the development position and the axis of rotation, and a y axis orthogonal to the x and z axes, said apparatus including: two spaced pins, each oriented generally parallel to the x axis and fixed with respect to one of said surface and said applicator, means defining two holes fixed with respect to the other of said surface and said applicator and positioned to receive said pins, one of said holes restricting relative movement of its pin parallel to both said y and z axes and the other hole restricting linear movement of its pin parallel only to said y axis, and means associated with one of said image member and applicator for engaging structure associated with the other of the image member and applicator for controlling the relative position of said surface and applicator parallel to the x axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
Positioning apparatus for positioning an applicator of a development unit with respect to a surface of an image member at a developing position, said surface having a generally cylindrical shape at least at said development position, said cylindrical shape having an axis of rotation and opposite ends, and said positioning apparatus positioning said applicator and surface with respect to three orthogonal axes, a z axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the image member, an x axis parallel to a line between the development position and the axis of rotation, and a y axis orthogonal to the x and z axes, said apparatus including: two spaced pins, each oriented generally parallel to the x axis and fixed with respect to one of said surface and said applicator, means defining two holes fixed with respect to the other of said surface and said applicator and positioned to receive said pins, one of said holes restricting relative movement of its pin parallel to both said y and z axes and the other hole restricting linear movement of its pin parallel only to said y axis, and means associated with one of said image member and applicator for engaging structure associated with the other of the image member and applicator for controlling the relative position of said surface and applicator parallel to the x axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Positioning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of said holes includes walls sufficiently deep to prevent rotation of its pin around the z axis and the other of said holes has walls not deep enough to restrict rotation of its pin about the z axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the relative position of the image member and the applicator parallel to the x axis is a pair of rollers fixed to the applicator at each of opposing ends of said applicator and positioned and sized to engage said surface of the image member to control the relative position of said surface and the applicator with respect to the x axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image member is a photoconductive drum and said pins are fixed with respect to its surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said drum and both pins are mounted in a removable cartridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said pins each have a center line which intersects the axis of rotation of the drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said applicator is part of a development unit, which unit is one of a plurality of units mounted for sequential positioning at said development position, each unit having an applicator with positioning means complimentary to the position means of the drum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A cartridge for insertion in an image forming apparatus, said cartridge including: a photoconductive drum, and pair of pins at opposite ends of said drum and fixed with respect to said drum for mating with positioning holes fixed with respect to a development applicator which applicator is part of the image forming apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A cartridge for insertion in an image forming apparatus, said cartridge including: a photoconductive drum, and pair of pins at opposite ends of said drum and fixed with respect to said drum for mating with positioning holes fixed with respect to a development applicator which applicator is part of the image forming apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said pins have a centerline running through the axis of rotation of the drum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cartridge according to claim 8 wherein each of said pins includes a spring urged washer for urging an applicator away from said drum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge having a photoconductive drum, a developing unit having an applicator, positioning means associated with said drum and applicator for controlling their relative positions, said positioning means including: a pair of pins fixed with respect to said drum, means defining a pair of holes fixed with respect to said applicator for receiving said pins, and means associated with said applicator for engaging said drum to provide a separation between said applicator and drum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge having a photoconductive drum, a developing unit having an applicator, positioning means associated with said drum and applicator for controlling their relative positions, said positioning means including: a pair of pins fixed with respect to said drum, means defining a pair of holes fixed with respect to said applicator for receiving said pins, and means associated with said applicator for engaging said drum to provide a separation between said applicator and drum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said apparatus has a plurality of development units, each movable to a single development position with respect to said drum and each having means defining a pair of holes for receiving said pins and means for engaging said drum to provide a separation between said applicator and drum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
177 words
Positioning apparatus for positioning a movable applicator of a movable development unit with respect to a surface of an image member at a developing position, said image member being a cylindrical photoconductive drum in a cartridge and, said surface having an axis of rotation, and said positioning apparatus positioning said applicator and surface with respect to three orthogonal axes, a z axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the image member, an x axis parallel to a line between the development position and the axis of rotation, and a y axis orthogonal to the x and z axes, said apparatus including: positioning means fixed with respect to said surface, positioning means fixed with respect to and movable with said applicator for engaging said means fixed with respect to said surface to position said applicator parallel to said z axis, and means fixed with respect to said applicator for engaging said surface to control the relative positions of said surface and applicator rotationally with respect to the y axis and linearly with respect to the x axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
177 words
Positioning apparatus for positioning a movable applicator of a movable development unit with respect to a surface of an image member at a developing position, said image member being a cylindrical photoconductive drum in a cartridge and, said surface having an axis of rotation, and said positioning apparatus positioning said applicator and surface with respect to three orthogonal axes, a z axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the image member, an x axis parallel to a line between the development position and the axis of rotation, and a y axis orthogonal to the x and z axes, said apparatus including: positioning means fixed with respect to said surface, positioning means fixed with respect to and movable with said applicator for engaging said means fixed with respect to said surface to position said applicator parallel to said z axis, and means fixed with respect to said applicator for engaging said surface to control the relative positions of said surface and applicator rotationally with respect to the y axis and linearly with respect to the x axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The positioning apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said applicator is one of a plurality of applicators each part of a distinct development unit and each applicator is movable into said development position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The positioning apparatus according to claim 14 wherein each applicator is also movable with respect to its development unit into said development position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The positioning apparatus according to claim 14 wherein each of said development units contains toner of a color different from that of the other units.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The positioning apparatus according to claim 15 wherein each of said development units contains toner of a color different from that of the other units.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-05 | 1995-11-04 | 1996-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-05 | 1999-11-04 | 2000-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-05 | 2003-11-04 | 2004-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |